Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

SpaceX NASA returning human spaceflight to United States today (canceled)

spacex.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

231–240 of 340 posts

Re: SpaceX NASA returning human spaceflight to United States today (canceled)

#231

Post by skyfaller »

I have one question/concern: why is almost nobody wearing a mask? Of course there is no need for people videoconferencing from home to wear masks, but many of the people in the livestream seem to be physically present on site. The only people I saw with masks were the people in the black suits helping the astronauts into the capsule.

Masks seem like an inexpensive way to reduce risk, the CDC and WHO recommend them. Sure, there are other measures that can reduce transmission, but the lack of masks makes me concerned that other measures are not being taken, perhaps because both Elon Musk and Trump have been downplaying the risk of covid-19 and they are both present today.

Re: SpaceX NASA returning human spaceflight to United States today (canceled)

#232

Post by jccooper »

spuz wrote: post #185

I wonder if they are using an already used Falcon 9 or a brand new one? Is there are statistical difference in the reliability of unused vs reused Falcon 9s?

Thus far all SpaceX F9 launch failures have been on all-new vehicles. But those were both in the second stage, which are not and cannot be reused. The F9 first stage has basically been perfect on launch, save for two single engine-out incidents (one new, one on the reused fleet leader) which did not impact payload delivery.

Thus far the sample size is low, but to the extent you can measure it they're equal.

Re: SpaceX NASA returning human spaceflight to United States today (canceled)

#233

Post by Koshkin »

lmilcin wrote: post #84
avmich wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We raise the question if the space deserves exploration fairly frequently here. For some reason, neither commercial advantages - certain things, like global communications, navigation, imaging can be conveniently done with satellites - not traditional expansion of species habitat reasons - though I'm sure for each Columbus crew there were some loudly wondering why sail at all - serve as a good enough explanation.

Of course it is worth to explore space. It does not "deserve" to be explored, it just pays off. There is huge amount of knowledge and resources to be had. Of course robotic missions are better for exploration than manned mission. Manned missions costs so much we could do so many more robotic missions for the same cost. People are absolutely not required in space. We send people into space because we can and we want.…

> resources to be had

We have all the resources we need here on Earth.

Re: SpaceX NASA returning human spaceflight to United States today (canceled)

#235

Post by NiceWayToDoIT »

NikolaeVarius wrote: post #222
jacquesm wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

UI is even more important when there is an anomaly.

You assume that whatever you prefer is a better UI.

:) well not necessarily just years of gaming practice.

Re: SpaceX NASA returning human spaceflight to United States today (canceled)

#236

Post by rurban »

relham wrote: post #125

I assume the astronauts and everyone involved is tested daily for COVID-19. I am sure that bringing the virus to the IIS would be disastrous. Anyone has any insights on the measures taken to prevent it? This Verge article[0] appears to describe the preventative steps to be less severe than I'd expect. [0] https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/25/21264868/spacex-nasa-laun...

Why should it be desastrous? I hope you do know the odds.

The COVID-19 fatality odd is 0.3%, the Dragon-lost odd probably much higher, maybe at around 5%. The Falcon 9 has over 80 starts now, but this is only the 3nd Dragon 2 start, and one of it failed.

Re: SpaceX NASA returning human spaceflight to United States today (canceled)

#238

Post by jccooper »

mempko wrote: post #220
NiceWayToDoIT wrote: post #187

Does anyone else feel super excited? I guess this was the feeling my parents had when they watched men landing on the Moon...

Today is a melancholy feeling. Happy to see SpaceX sending people to space, but sad a decade was lost. EDIT: I spoke about that we had a regression, I meant that NASA lost a capability and just got it back.

This is actually a brand new capability for NASA: human spaceflight that isn't ruinously expensive.

Re: SpaceX NASA returning human spaceflight to United States today (canceled)

#239

Post by _Microft »

jedberg wrote: post #217
_Microft wrote: post #213

ISS will be visible from Germany at 22:23 today, coming from north-west moving towards south-east and it will be followed by Crew Dragon and the Falcon 9 upper stage about 20 minutes later. It should pass almost straight over you in the south of Germany.

Do you know where ISS will be when Crew Dragon actually docks?

No idea, ISS is also moving very fast (> 7.5 km/s, that's more than 27000km/h), so even short delays will change the position massively.

Re: SpaceX NASA returning human spaceflight to United States today (canceled)

#240

Post by Koshkin »

gowld wrote: post #201
kitsunesoba wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In fact, if they are mutually exclusive it’d be indicative of incredible mismanagement. There are enough people for us to be able to do both, and nobody benefits from reallocating rocket scientists to things that aren’t rocket science.

Why not? Rocket scientists can work on fuel efficient cars and airplanes. And rocket science is only one small part of the overal industrial effort of launching rockets.

> Rocket scientists can work on fuel efficient cars

In all honesty, that's like saying that Jack the Ripper could work as a surgeon.

Post reply on HN